2018 : France's Finest - Paris to Avignon

Explore Paris, Burgundy & Provence

Pay your respects at Normandy's World War II beaches. Walk in Joan of Arc's footsteps at Rouen. Luxuriate in Paris's sophistication. Savor Lyon's culinary heritage. Toast the Beaujolais vineyards. Explore Avignon's Palace of the Popes. Celebrate the ProvenÃ§al lifestyle. Art, cuisine, style, joie de vivre-if you love everything FranÃ§ais, this is for you: a 15-day journey that combines our popular Paris & the Heart of Normandy and Lyon & Provence cruises into one tour de force.

All This Is Included

15-day cruise visiting 1 country & 11 ports

Visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

14 included shore excursions with local guide & headset

Culture Curriculum®: learn about & sample a variety of French cheeses; try some Burgundian wines; see how silk printing is done today; attend lectures on Jeanne d'Arc & French Impressionists; learn to say a few words en FranÃ§ais; enjoy a concert of popular French tunes; visit a local market

Airport transfers on date of embarkation/disembarkation with Viking Air program

Day 1 - Paris (Le Pecq), France

Arrive in Paris, romance capital of the world. Transfer from the airport in Paris to your ship.* After boarding, take free time to explore Paris, or join our "welcome walk" to stretch your legs and get oriented. (D)

Note: The Paris port authority assigned Viking a docking location in Le Pecq, a western suburb of Paris. To help maximize your time in the city center, we are offering complimentary shuttles throughout your stay.

Day 2 - Paris (Le Pecq), France

After breakfast, embark on a tour of this dazzling city and take in its most remarkable sights, including the iconic Eiffel Tower. You'll also see the Ecole Militaire, Orsay Museum and Latin Quarter and the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. Then we'll drive past the Louvre and Opera House and along the famed Champs-Elysees. Return aboard for dinner and start your cruise on the Seine this evening. (B, D)

Day 3 - Giverny & Vernon, France

Arrive in Vernon before breakfast; take a short ride into the town of Giverny, where Claude Monet resided from 1883 until his death in 1926. Visit the beautiful gardens and charming stone farmhouse where he lived and worked; see the water garden with the recognizable Japanese bridge, water lilies, wisteria and azaleas that inspired many of his masterpieces.?

After lunch, spend some time with your Program Director in the provincial town of Vernon. Take a stroll to see the Maison du Temps Jadis (House of Past Times), Vernon's oldest house, and the 11th-century Church of Notre Dame. Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Rouen, France

Indulge in leisurely morning cruising along the Seine. You'll spend the afternoon in the medieval city of Rouen, preeminent capital of Normandy. Begin with a walking tour through the center of Old Town, where you see the spectacular Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, often painted by Claude Monet, and the famous Gros Horloge, a 16th-century astronomical clock. As you walk among the half-timbered storybook buildings, you'll feel transported back through time; see the 14th-century courthouse where Joan of Arc was sentenced to death and the nearby Market Square where she was martyred.

Take free time to discover more of Rouen or visit one of its museums of art or antiquities. Dine aboard or at a sidewalk cafe. Your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Normandy Beaches, France

After breakfast, begin your full-day tour to the historic beaches of Normandy. Drive past Gold Beach, Courseulles sur Mer and Juno Beach on your way to visit such World War II landmarks as Omaha Beach, the American Military Cemetery and Arromanches Debarkment D-Day Museum. Alternatively, you may take a tour of Bayeaux, where you can admire the magnificent tapestry that chronicles the pre-Battle of Hastings events. Afterward, continue to Normandy's coast and enjoy some free time at Juno Beach after your visit to the museum; then visit the Pegasus Museum. Return to your ship for dinner and relax aboard, or take an evening stroll in Rouen. (B, L, D)

Day 6 - Les Andelys, France

Enjoy a leisurely morning cruise to the small town of Les Andelys, known for its imposing castle, ChÃ¢teau Gaillard, built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart. After lunch, join a guided walk to this fatally flawed masterpiece of Middle Ages architecture. Return aboard for scenic cruising and dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 7 - Paris (Le Pecq), France

After breakfast, disembark for a visit to Chateau de Malmaison, where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final days in France. Along with the Tuileries, this elegant manor house, purchased by the emperor's wife Josephine in 1799, served as the seat of Napoleon's French government from 1800 to 1802. Or, join an optional tour to the luxurious Palace of Versailles, former home of Louis XIV. (B, L, D)

Day 8 - Paris & Lyon, France

After breakfast, disembark and enjoy a leisurely ride from Paris through the countryside of east central France to Lyon to board your second ship, where a Welcome Dinner is served. (B, D)

Day 9 - Lyon, France

After breakfast, tour the city of Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin with a drive to the top of FourviÃ¨re Hill for amazing views of the city. Continue with a guided visit to the Basilica of Notre Dame and drive through town past the magnificent St. Jean Cathedral and the Palace of Justice. Then take a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon (Old Town), where you'll have free time to shop for souvenirs or sample some of the fine French cuisine for which Lyon is world famous. (B, L, D)

Day 10 - Lyon & Beaujolais Wine Tour

After breakfast, take a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Beaujolais, where viticultural tradition runs deep. See the legendary Moulin-Ã -Vent, the windmill that gives its name to one of the most prestigious wines of the region, learn about the art of winemaking in a small museum and enjoy a tasting in one of the Beaujolais's famous cellars. Return to your ship for lunch. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. (B, L, D)

Day 11 - Vienne & Tournon, France

This morning take a walking tour of Vienne, a beautiful town with an ancient Roman past. Visit the Temple of Augustus and Livia, the Roman amphitheater and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Maurice; then spend some time discovering more of this engaging riverside town on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy the rolling vine-clad banks of the river, as you sail through its wide meanders to Tournon. After dinner, enjoy a stroll along the riverbanks under the plane trees. (B, L, D)

Day 12 - Tournon & Viviers, France

All aboard the Train de l'ArdÃ¨che this morning for a locomotive ride through the deep gorges of the ArdÃ¨che plateau, cut by the Doux River. You'll return to your ship and enjoy lunch aboard as we cruise to Viviers, an engaging little town in a mountainous setting. After dinner, join your Program Director for an evening stroll through Old Town with its medieval and Renaissance buildings. (B, L, D)

Day 13 - Avignon, France

This morning, set out on a guided walk of Avignon, nicknamed "City of Popes" because it was home to seven popes from 1309 to 1377. Stroll through the historic center, stop at the picturesque Pont d'Avignon and walk the Place de l'Horloge. Continue to the renowned Palace of the Popes for a guided tour through this rambling maze of Gothic architecture that served as papal residence, fortress, church and palace. You can join the optional tour to ChÃ¢teauneuf-du-Pape, visiting the vineyards and tasting the famous wine. Lunch and dinner are served aboard. Your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 14 - Arles, France

Disembark after breakfast and take a walking tour of Arles with its diverse architectural highlights. Experience the city's vibrant colors and striking quality of light that have inspired artists. Arles is also the site of some impressive Roman ruins, including Les ArÃ¨nes, an arena that seats 20,000 and is still in use, as well as Romanesque monuments such as the Church of Saint-TrÃ´phime, completed in the 15th century. Return aboard for lunch followed by an afternoon on your own to explore or shop for handcrafted gifts. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Dinner is served as you depart. (B, L, D)

Day 15 - Avignon, France

After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the Marseille airport for your return flight.* (B)

Call (520) 445-6812 for more information or to book today! Mention code 13322945